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How to clear temp files safely in Windows 11
Open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, tick the categories you want to remove and choose Remove files. Temporary files, thumbnails and Delivery Optimization files are safe to delete; leave Downloads unticked unless you have checked that folder yourself.
Temporary files are left behind by Windows, installers and apps. Most are recreated when needed, so deleting them is safe, but deleting is permanent: nothing goes to the Recycle Bin.
With Windows Storage settings
- Press Win+I and go to System > Storage.
- Choose Temporary files and wait for the scan.
- Tick what to remove. Read each description; untick Downloads and Recycle Bin unless you mean them.
- Choose Remove files.
Storage Sense, on the same page, can do this automatically on a schedule.
What not to delete
- Your Downloads folder, unless you have checked it.
- Anything in Program Files or Windows folders by hand.
- Files an app says are in use: close the app first, or leave them.
How RIVET does it
RIVET's Cleanup screen scans temporary files and browser caches and lists every category with its size before anything is deleted. It never touches your documents. Cleanup can't be undone, and RIVET says so before you confirm. Windows Update leftovers can only be removed by an administrator, so they appear only with Admin mode on and delete through Windows' own permission prompt. Since 3.7.5, RIVET can also remind you, at most once a week, when a clean is worth it. RIVET has no telemetry: nothing about your files leaves your PC.
Questions
Is it safe to delete temp files in Windows 11?
Yes, temporary files are safe to delete; Windows and apps recreate what they need. Close open apps first so nothing is in use, and leave the Downloads folder unless you have checked it.
Why do temp files come back?
Windows and apps create new temporary files as they work. Clearing them is maintenance, not a one-off fix.
Is there a cleanup tool without telemetry?
Windows' own Storage settings, and RIVET, which has no telemetry, no account and no analytics. RIVET shows each category's size before deleting anything.